Peperomia plant named ‘Brasilia’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Peperomia plant named ‘Brasilia’ that is characterized by leaves that are grey-purple on the upper surface and red on the lower surface, a large number of leaves, yellow-white flower spikes and a compact habit.

Botanical classification: Peperomia caperata.

Variety denomination: ‘Brasilia’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPeperomia plant botanically known as Peperomia caperata and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Brasilia’.

‘Brasilia’ originated from the crossing of the female or seed parent,Peperomia caperata ‘Teresa’ (not patented) and the male or pollenparent, Peperomia ‘Eden Rosso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,379). Thecrossing was conducted in 2015in Odense, Denmark. The resulting seedswere subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘Brasilia’ wasselected by the inventor in 2016 in a controlled environment as a singleplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivated area ofOdense, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Brasilia’ first occurred byleaf cuttings in 2016in Odense, Denmark. Since that time, under carefulobservation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have beenuniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newPeperomia cultivar ‘Brasilia’. These traits in combination distinguish‘Brasilia’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingvarieties of Peperomia known by the inventor.

-   -   1. Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ exhibits leaves that are grey-purple on        the upper surface and red on the lower surface.    -   2. Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ exhibits a large number of leaves.    -   3. Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ exhibits yellow-white flower spikes.    -   4. Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ exhibits a compact habit.

The closest comparison cultivars are Peperomia ‘Schumi Red’ (notpatented) and Peperomia ‘Kirsten’ (not patented). ‘Brasilia’ isdistinguishable from ‘Schumi Red’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ exhibits leaves that are grey-purple on        the upper surface and red on the lower surface. In comparison,        the leaves of ‘Schumi Red’ are red on both the upper and lower        surfaces.    -   2. Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ exhibits a less compact plant habit than        the plant habit of ‘Schumi Red’.

‘Brasilia’ is distinguishable from ‘Kirsten’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Peperomia ‘Brasilia’ exhibits leaves that are grey-purple on        the upper surface and red on the lower surface. In comparison,        the leaves of ‘Kirsten’ are green with silver lines on the upper        surface and green on the lower surface.

‘Brasilia’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant, by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. The leaves of ‘Brasilia’ are grey-purple on the upper surface        and red on the lower surface. In comparison, the leaves of the        female parent plant are grey on both the upper and lower        surfaces.    -   2. The leaves of ‘Brasilia’ are smaller than the leaves of the        female parent plant.

‘Brasilia’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. The leaves of ‘Brasilia’ are grey-purple on the upper surface        and red on the lower surface. In comparison, the leaves of the        male parent plant are dark green on the upper surface and red on        the lower surface.    -   2. The leaves of ‘Brasilia’ are larger than the leaves of the        male parent plant.    -   3. The leaves of ‘Brasilia’ do not have ribs or riffles. In        comparison, the leaves of the male parent plant have ribs and        riffles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofPeperomia ‘Brasilia’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 30 weekold plant.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance,it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Peperomia cultivarnamed ‘Brasilia’. Data was collected in Odense, Denmark from 30 week oldplants grown in a glass greenhouse in 13.0 cm. diameter containers. Thetime of year was Winter and the temperature range was 20-23 degreesCentigrade during the day and 18-20 degrees Centigrade at night. Thelight level was natural light level. No photoperiodic treatments orgrowth retardants were used. Color determinations are in accordance withThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 edition, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thegrowing requirements are similar to the species. ‘Brasilia’ has not beentested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may beobserved with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Peperomia caperata ‘Brasilia’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘Brasilia’ is a hybrid of the female parent, Peperomia    ‘Teresa’ and the male parent Peperomia ‘Eden Rosso’.-   Plant type: Potted plant.-   Growth habit: Rosette of leaves forming very short thick stems.-   Plant shape: Flattened globe shaped.-   Suitable container size: 7 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height to top of foliage: Average 16.0 cm.-   Plant height to top of floral plane: Average 15.6 cm.-   Plant width: Average 35.4 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Low Temperature Tolerance: 10° Centigrade.-   High Temperature Tolerance: 35° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 28 days at 20° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 35 days at 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (summer): 80 days at 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (winter): 100 days at 20° C.-   Crop time: Approximately 30 weeks in Odense, Denmark.-   Root system: Fibrous.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Very short thick main stems branching into            lateral rosettes of leaves.        -   Pinching.—Not required.        -   Number of main stems per plant.—Average 8.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—Average 32.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—Average 2.8 cm. in length and            0.8 cm. in width.        -   Internode length.—Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Stem appearance.—Succulent.        -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth.        -   Stem luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Stem pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem angle.—Average 20 degrees.        -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Stem color (young).—148A.        -   Stem color (mature).—Between 148A and 197A.        -   Internode color.—Between 148A and 197A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 8.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Strongly concave.        -   Leaf apex.—Broad acute to broad apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Hastate, lobes touching to slightly overlapping.        -   Leaf dimensions.—Average 7.0 cm. in length and 5.0 cm. in            width.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, moderately to strongly leathery (both            surfaces).        -   Leaf luster upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Leaf luster lower surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Pubescence.—Absent (both surfaces).        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf lobed.—Not lobed.        -   Leaf rugose.—Not rugose (both surfaces).        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel, strongly furrowed.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—N200A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—Between N77C and N186C.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—Between 147A and N189A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—183B.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—Between 147A and N189A.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—Between 183A and 200C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Petiole dimensions.—Average 9.6 cm. in length and 0.4 cm. in            diameter.        -   Petiole texture.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole luster.—Moderately glossy on both sides.        -   Petiole pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole strength.—Low.        -   Petiole color (both sides).—N148D with fine stripes 181A,            stripes more dense toward distal end.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Axillary spike.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—Average 5.1 cm. in length and            0.5 cm. in diameter.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Average over 1,000.        -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—Average over 1,500.        -   Quantity of buds per plant.—Average over 8,500.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Average over 10,000.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Bud length.—Average 0.4 mm.        -   Bud diameter.—Average 0.4 mm.        -   Bud shape.—Flattened globe shaped.        -   Bud texture.—Glabrous.        -   Bud luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Bud color.—145B, dotted 181B.        -   Flower type and form.—Flowers have no petals or sepals and            consist of two stamens, one pistil and one bract below the            reproductive organs.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Flower shape.—Rotate, two stamens, one pistil and one bract            located below the stamens and pistil.        -   Flower dimensions.—Average 0.75 mm. in height (excluding            bract) and 0.75 mm. in diameter.        -   Flower longevity.—Approximately 1 month.        -   Natural flowering season.—Late winter to late spring.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.-   Bracts:    -   -   Bract arrangement.—A single bract is located below the            stamens and pistil.        -   Bract dimensions.—Average 0.5 mm. in length and 0.5 mm. in            width.        -   Bract shape.—Orbicular.        -   Bract color.—145B to 145C, finely dotted 181B to 181C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—Average 11.6 cm. in length and 0.3 cm.            in diameter.        -   Peduncle angle.—30 degrees from vertical.        -   Peduncle strength.—Moderately weak.        -   Peduncle texture.—Smooth.        -   Peduncle luster.—Moderately glossy.        -   Peduncle color.—N148D with fine stripes 183C, stripes denser            toward distal end.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—2.        -   Anther shape.—Kidney shaped.        -   Anther length.—Average 0.2 mm.        -   Anther width.—Average 0.15 mm.        -   Anther color.—158C to 158D.        -   Filament length.—Average 0.15 mm.        -   Filament color.—145C to 145D.        -   Amount of pollen.—Low.        -   Pollen color.—155A.        -   Number of pistils.—1.        -   Pistil length.—Average 0.75 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Flattened, rounded.        -   Stigma dimensions.—0.05 mm. in length and 0.05 mm. in            diameter.        -   Stigma color.—157A.        -   Style length.—Average 0.7 mm.        -   Style color.—145C.        -   Ovary color.—145D.-   Fruit and seed: ‘Brasilia’ has not produced fruit or seed to date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Peperomia plant named ‘Brasilia’ as described and illustrated. 